The "parcel" supposedly carried by the killer

[YomRippur]

If the respective witness testimonies were to be believed, then the Ripper might have been in more than one occasion carrying a parcel wrapped in paper while murdering his victim. Then this parcel could have been regarded as part of his modus operandi. But I just can't figure out why the cumbersome way of carrying his belongings. His likely tools, such as a knife and a pair of gloves, could be easily fit inside his coat pockets or hidden in the inner layers of his clothing. Why risk carrying something that might be remembered or identified? He couldn't use a regular bag, since it might have distinctive features that could be remembered or identified. So he likely used a nondescript container, and even wrapped it with paper to cover up any possible slightest memorable feature on the outside of the container. It seemed he took considerable effort in creating this parcel. And if so, his purpose must have been to hold something fairly important too. A jar for holding a kidney, perhaps. A lamp. A piece of chalk. Towel to wipe his hands. If indeed he was carrying items like that, he would also need to carry them back with him as he was leaving the crime scene. He would risk being seen with the parcel again, of course. Or maybe he had ways to discard it before he went back home.

[GUT]

If the respective witness testimonies were to be believed, then the Ripper might have been in more than one occasion carrying a parcel wrapped in paper while murdering his victim. Then this parcel could have been regarded as part of his modus operandi. But I just can't figure out why the cumbersome way of carrying his belongings. His likely tools, such as a knife and a pair of gloves, could be easily fit inside his coat pockets or hidden in the inner layers of his clothing. Why risk carrying something that might be remembered or identified? He couldn't use a regular bag, since it might have distinctive features that could be remembered or identified. So he likely used a nondescript container, and even wrapped it with paper to cover up any possible slightest memorable feature on the outside of the container. It seemed he took considerable effort in creating this parcel. And if so, his purpose must have been to hold something fairly important too. A jar for holding a kidney, perhaps. A lamp. A piece of chalk. Towel to wipe his hands. If indeed he was carrying items like that, he would also need to carry them back with him as he was leaving the crime scene. He would risk being seen with the parcel again, of course. Or maybe he had ways to discard it before he went back home.

I'm sceptical that any witness saw the killer, but if they did and if he was carrying a parcel well

In it the knife

After the attack the knife and the little morsels he took away.

[YomRippur]

I'm sceptical that any witness saw the killer, but if they did and if he was carrying a parcel well

In it the knife

After the attack the knife and the little morsels he took away.

I would say it would have to be an unusually large knife to justify to use of a box to carry it, unless he the killer needed to carry other things as I mentioned. One eyewitness did say he had seen a victim with a man carrying a 18" by 6" parcel. The autopsy reports indicated the murder weapon was a knife at least 6" long, 1" wide, pointed at the tip. A 6" or perhaps even a 12" knife could easily be concealed in the killer's body without the need of a box.

[Damaso Marte]

Parcels might be food wrapped up "to go", or, in the case of sightings near the Stride murder scene, packets of socialist newspapers.

[DJA]

Mary Kelly's fish and chips?

[richardnunweek]

Hi,
I would suggest, it was some kind of cleaning material, it would make sense in the double event, the killer discarding it, after wiping his hands after Stride, and then having to cut a portion of Eddowes apron to complete the job, as he had not reckoned on accosting another that night.
In the case of Kelly he would need a clean up more then any of the others,
Regards Richard.

[Bridewell]

I would say it would have to be an unusually large knife to justify to use of a box to carry it, unless he the killer needed to carry other things as I mentioned. One eyewitness did say he had seen a victim with a man carrying a 18" by 6" parcel. The autopsy reports indicated the murder weapon was a knife at least 6" long, 1" wide, pointed at the tip. A 6" or perhaps even a 12" knife could easily be concealed in the killer's body without the need of a box.

Rather depends on the type of knife:



A carpenter's or cooper's draw knife measures 18" by 6". (At least mine does). This one has folding handles but some (mine included) do not.

[Wickerman]

Handy if he planned to fillet them, but otherwise....

[Michael W Richards]

If the respective witness testimonies were to be believed, then the Ripper might have been in more than one occasion carrying a parcel wrapped in paper while murdering his victim. Then this parcel could have been regarded as part of his modus operandi. But I just can't figure out why the cumbersome way of carrying his belongings. His likely tools, such as a knife and a pair of gloves, could be easily fit inside his coat pockets or hidden in the inner layers of his clothing. Why risk carrying something that might be remembered or identified? He couldn't use a regular bag, since it might have distinctive features that could be remembered or identified. So he likely used a nondescript container, and even wrapped it with paper to cover up any possible slightest memorable feature on the outside of the container. It seemed he took considerable effort in creating this parcel. And if so, his purpose must have been to hold something fairly important too. A jar for holding a kidney, perhaps. A lamp. A piece of chalk. Towel to wipe his hands. If indeed he was carrying items like that, he would also need to carry them back with him as he was leaving the crime scene. He would risk being seen with the parcel again, of course. Or maybe he had ways to discard it before he went back home.

It is worth noting that for this thread supposition there exists within the known evidence an incident where a witness saw someone walk past a murder scene carrying a black bag resembling that of a doctors that did not contain any medicines or medical paraphernalia, but rather empty cigarette cartons. That in and of itself is proof at least one person on the night of The so called Double Event was about after midnight and carrying something that could be used for transporting organs and bloodied cloth, just as innocently and as easily as it could cigarette cartons.

[Wickerman]

It is worth noting that for this thread supposition there exists within the known evidence an incident where a witness saw someone walk past a murder scene carrying a black bag resembling that of a doctors that did not contain any medicines or medical paraphernalia, but rather empty cigarette cartons. That in and of itself is proof at least one person on the night of The so called Double Event was about after midnight and carrying something that could be used for transporting organs and bloodied cloth, just as innocently and as easily as it could cigarette cartons.

Had the man been stopped in the street and searched, then yes we could say his bag did contain empty cigarette cases. That is not how events unfolded, wasn't it the next day, or later, that he went to the police of his own volition and told them what the bag contained, or perhaps showed them what was in the bag now.
I'm not at all saying this guy should have been a suspect, but his story is hardly convincing the way it really played out.

[Harry D]

Incidentally, the soldier who told John Cleary about the Pinchin St. murder was said to be carrying a parcel.

[jerryd]

Echo
London, U.K.
18 October 1888

A very mysterious incident, in connection with arrest of the man at King-street Police-station, Westminster, whose apprehension was yesterday announced in The Echo, has transpired this morning. It appears that on Monday the man went into the shop of Messrs. Bellamy Bros., Railway-approach, Charing-cross, and after a brief but somewhat incoherent chat with Mr. Batchelor, the manager, he suddenly placed a black bag on the counter, and left the shop. The incident has come to the knowledge of the police authorities, but up to the present they thought it prudent to regard the affair as a secret. The bag contained a razor, a dagger (which bore more or less recent marks of blood stains), several miscellaneous but almost valueless odds and ends, together with a broken piece of looking-glass and a small piece of soap. It is regarded as somewhat suspicious that these latter articles are similar to those found on the Whitechapel victims.
MR. BATCHELOR'S STATEMENT
The shiny black bag and its contents were inspected this morning by an Echo reporter, who called at Messrs. Bellamy's in order to verify certain reports respecting their strange visitor. Mr. R. Bachelor, the manager, made the following statement:- "He was such a mysterious-looking person that I could not make him out at all, but it was not until after he left the shop that it somehow occurred to me that his mind was unhinged from some cause or other, and then the Whitechapel murders and the affair at Whitehall came across my mind. It was from reading the special edition of last night's Echo that I felt convinced the black bag was an incident worth mentioning. Well, as soon as the man came into the shop he took out a pencil and commenced to write some words which no one could read. Then he straightened himself up, remarked 'You must not be surprised to hear I'm Jack the Ripper - I'm a most mysterious man' and darted out of the shop. He made use of the expression, 'I'm used to cutting people up, and can put them together again. The police are all disguised, and wherever I go I meet them.' He looked to me like a doctor or doctor's assistant, but was rather shabby." The razor and dagger found in the bag have been examined by Dr. Bond.

Then this related story.

20th October 1888 Hull and Lincolnshire Times

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY A SUSPECT
The Press Association says, much importance is attached by the police to the arrest made at King-street Police Station, Whitehall. On Tuesday morning the man entered the above named station about nine o’clock, and complained of having lost a black bag. While the officials were taking notes of his case, he commenced talking about the Whitechapel Murders, and offered to cut off the sergeant’s head, and other rambling nonsense. It will be remembered that several people have testified to seeing a man with a black bag in the region of the murders, and who has not been traced. The fact was at once remembered by the police, and the man was further questioned. In answer to the inquiry as to his business, he said he studied for some years for the medical profession, but gave it up for engineering, and that he had been stopping for some nights in a coffee house. His manner then became so strange that Dr. Bond, divisional surgeon, was sent for to examine the man. The doctor subsequently gave it as his opinion that the man was a very dangerous lunatic of homicidal tendency, and as his appearance somewhat tallied with that published of the man who was seen with the murdered woman, he was removed to Bow-street. But before being taken thither photographs of his person were taken. He was also asked to write his name, and it is stated his writing is somewhat similar to that of the letters received by the police and others. He gave his age as 67, but it is said he looks a full twenty years younger. The police are endeavouring to trace his antecedents and movements for the past few weeks.

[DirectorDave]

In the case of Kelly he would need a clean up more then any of the others,
Regards Richard.

Hi Richard,

I think your cleaning material has some merit, running with that idea we are dealing with someone with forethought and who is practical. Do you think the most practical method for him to mutilate Mary would be him striping naked, perhaps carefully folding his clothes?

Obviously he would still need to clean up afterwards, with we can assume hot water from the kettle and other items of clothing or bedding within the room.

[YomRippur]

Hi Richard,

I think your cleaning material has some merit, running with that idea we are dealing with someone with forethought and who is practical. Do you think the most practical method for him to mutilate Mary would be him striping naked, perhaps carefully folding his clothes?

Obviously he would still need to clean up afterwards, with we can assume hot water from the kettle and other items of clothing or bedding within the room.

I can certainly believe the killer might have removed at least some of his clothing (or used the victim's), perhaps to use as window curtains. The "large fire" he started might have emitted strong light that needed to be blocked from shining all over Miller's Court through the windows. One of the windows already had a curtain (as Thomas Bowyer noticed), but there was also a much larger window next to it. A "long overcoat" would have been handy.

[Joshua Rogan]

I believe both windows would have had curtains, but the police removed them to let some light into the room. According to the Star 10 Nov interview;

"Mrs. Prater took advantage of a journey for some water to peep through the window for which, when the door was broken open, the curtains were torn down."